December 2016

Dec 20, 2016

Fresh off a redeye from Israel, I interview Matthew Green of the Johns Hopkins Information Security Institute. Security news from the internet of things grows ever grimmer, we agree, but I get off the bus when Matt and the EFF try to solve the problem with free speech law.

Two new settlements show the limits of privacy law. Michael Vatis covers them both. Ashley Madison settles with the FTC and is assessed a large fine that has to be partially forgiven because the company can’t pay. We all thought that adultery was a more durable business model. And Google settles a class action for unlawful wiretapping by agreeing to scan everyone’s email a few microseconds later than it used to. And to spike the football in its victory, Google offers most victims of the violation damages that amount to, well, nothing.

Dec 12, 2016

Too busy to read the 100-page Presidential Commission on Enhancing National Security report on what the next administration should do about cybersecurity? No worries. Episode 142 features a surprisingly contentious but highly informative dialog about the report with Kiersten Todt, the commission’s executive director.

We next turn to an interview with Scott Charney, Corporate Vice President for Trustworthy Computing at Microsoft. I’ve known Scott for 25 years and he’s an acute observer of the international cybersecurity scene. We discuss international pressures on technology companies including the conflicted roles of governments dealing with encryption.